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What is a Parent’s Legal Liability for Car Accidents that Involve their Child?

All kids make mistakes. A general rule that is in place is that the law doesn’t allow individuals who are injured by the negligent actions of a child to seek compensation from the child or from their parents. However, if the child causes an injury because of willful misconduct or engages in certain types of dangerous activities when an accident takes place, the guardian or parent may be considered legally responsible for the property damage or injury that results from the negligent conduct of their minor child.

The most common example of this type of event is when a minor child causes a traffic accident.

Florida’s Law Related to Car Accidents Involving Minors

In the state of Florida, a guardian or parent who verifies the driver’s license of a minor may be held financially liable for any injury that is caused by the minor during the accident. There is no limit on the total amount of recovery that can be sought. However, to establish that a parent or a guardian is liable for the negligent conduct of the minor, the victim of the accident has to establish that all of the elements of negligence are present. Specifically, this means that the accident victim has to prove that the negligent action of the minor resulted in the accident and caused the resulting injuries.There is no type of requirement that the parent or the guardian was negligent in supervising the minor.

Serious Car Accidents Involving Teens

An example of an accident that involved a minor driver is when seven people suffered injuries during a single vehicle accident. According to the report, the driver of a SUV was a 14-year-old who was driving six passengers. The teen tried to change lanes but did not see the driver in the other lane. The teen tried to fix the mistake and overcorrected. At this point, he lost control of the SUV and spun out of control. The SUV wound up hitting a highway barrier nearby.

All of the people inside of the vehicle, including the driver, were injured in the accident. According to the aunt of the boy, he was allowed to drive to practice before getting his license and it wasn’t his first time behind the wheel.

What To Do if You are Injured in a Car Accident Involving a Minor

If you are ever involved in a car accident with a minor driver, then you may be able to receive monetary compensation for the injuries and damages that occurred as a result. At this point, it is best to hire a personal injury attorney who has experience with these types of cases to determine what your rights are and who is liable for the accident that occurred.

If you have questions or need more information, contact the attorneys at Fetterman & Associates by calling 561-845-2510. Qualified legal representation can ensure your rights are protected and that you receive as much monetary compensation possible for the injuries you sustained.